Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-06-28
eRAzlL,s POLITICAL SYSTEM
Tho provinces Considering the SUP
tect of Federation.

tect of Federation
According to recent advices from
buco the idea of a federation OF PROVINCES WIN
n large measure OF self-government ior e"en'
is steadily gaining adherants IN that province
The scheme is one which commends itseh 10
the thoughtful consideration of every brazil-
ian. not because 1t is step toward repuon'
canjsm. but because it Is necessary iea'ure
in any genuinely. representative form Oh gov
eminent. A representative form when repre-
sents no independence or self-government on
tbe mart of the persons or provinces repre-
sented ia Illogical. There can be no vailo
representation where there Is nothing 10 re-
present In this respect the political system
of Brazil is both defective and misleading
Is called constitutional representative
monarchy, but in nearly every respect these
terms are msnomers. Its constitution was
the work of its first emperor, and was ratineo
by a few municipal assemblies, but its
guarantees are valueless and It's authority
Imaginary. Its representative element Is con-
fined to the election of legislators by prov
ipces governed by an imperial delegate ana
kept in order by judges and police officials ap-
pointed by the imperial executive. In apopu'
lation of, say 1000, 600, there are less than
10000 voters, and even their expressed VIII
is reversed with IMMUNITY here in the imperial
capital. The provinces have legislatures, 1t is
true, but their powers are greatly restricted
and their recourses limited And as for the
municipalities, they have as little clearly de-
fined local government as can be found in any
political system in the world. As for the
monarchical element, 1t exists In principle
and in fact, but it is in reality more demo-
cratic than the people themselves. A thorough
remodeling of this inconsistent, complicated
system ought not to be difficult task, and 1t
ought to be accomplished within the life oil
the present emperor, for the simple reason
that his personal authority and influence are
necessary to settle questions which will never
be settled without him.
The scheme of federation" is, we fear,
both misleading and unnecessary. The
principle involved is the necessary thing, but
that can be secured without bringing in the
disturbing idea of federation" A change In
the constitution would be required, but that
might be secured through the usual parlia-
mentar, usages. The essential principles in
volved are comprised in provisions for clearly
defined provincial and municipal self-govern
ment a definite fiscal system in which the
provinces and municipalities shall receive
their just share of the public revenue, clear
determination of the relationship between the
provinces and the imperial government, an ex.
pressed limitation of the powers of the pro.
vinces in matters affecting the empire and Of
the imperial government in matters affecting
the local affairs of the provinces, and a sharp
prohibition of imperial influence in the cleo
| i
to the imperiala parliament. In all this there
is nothing Incompatible with the system under
which Brazil is now supposed to be governed.
- Rio Nems